Over 300 sheet metal manufacturers learned how Radan is becoming much more than an isolated CAD/CAM system, when they attended a series of User Group Meetings around the UK.

As well as detailing the wide range of new and enhanced functionality in its 2014 release, the world’s most powerful sheetmetal CAD/CAM software also gave delegates a preview of its developing logistics modules.

Radan Sales and Major Accounts Manager Kevin O’Connor says: “It’s all about the evolution of CAD/CAM. We’ve been a leading CAM supplier to the sheet metal industry for 35 years, but our logistics suite takes us outside our core CAD/CAM. Interfacing with other software such as MRP, along with automating the method in which customers can bring data into their system, is vital for Radan to integrate more fully into a company’s complete I.T. structure.”

While the first of the logistics modules, Radimport, is available now, Radan Product Manager Olaf Körner previewed Radquote which launches early next year. “Radquote generates quotes for sheet metal parts, tube and bar parts and purchased parts. It provides a full breakdown of costs, and allows each cost area to be altered, giving full flexibility when negotiating. Its reporting system means users can send professional quotation letters and emails, and make internal reports for analysis.”

Delegates attending the sessions at Wetherby, Swindon, Leicester, Telford, Dartford and Lanarkshire in Scotland, were told that the other logistics products, Radlink and Radmanager, will also be rolled out during 2014.

Kevin O’Connor says delegates saw there was something new for every type of Radan user in the latest release, 2014, whether they are profiling customers, punching, 3D or 2D. “The new functionality creating the most excitement at the User Group Meetings is within Radan 3D, reducing the time taken to get parts to the nest, from hours of work in some cases, down to minutes. Previously several manual steps were required including unfolding the model, saving as a part and adding the right quantity to the schedule. Now all sheet metal, whether single or assemblies, is unfolded and added to the nest area automatically.”

Technical Support Manager Steve Little explained how the Radan support portal helps users get a speedy solution to their manufacturing issues, and how it is creating a customer community communicating with each other providing tips and tricks.

And Kevin O’Connor says it also gives customers an opportunity to have their say regarding the direction future developments in the software should take.